Farmer's Market

 

I got up at 5:30 Saturday morning, and headed to my former hometown for their last Farmer's Market/Junk in the Trunk on the Square.  You can see that we pull into a parking spot, then work from the back of our vehicles, which I think is awesome, especially for setting up and tearing down.  

I was able to sell a few pieces, that made me happy.  Got a lot of compliments on my work, a lot of folks picked up my business card, so that makes me hopeful!  

Early morning markets are not the best place to sell handmade items.  My daughter and I did a lot of shows when she was living in the US, most of them were afternoon/evening and we had good luck.  Gosh, I think back to how green I was to pyrography at that time, but still was able to sell some pieces.  

The highlight of my day was when a little girl bee-lined to my little faux patent letter Fat Cat, with the textured highlight on his belly.  In the pic, it's the black one on the left corner.  I could tell by her eyes that she loved it.  She asked me how much it was, so I told her it was $5 (usually $15) and she was so disappointed.  I asked her how many dollars she had to spend and she showed me a $1 dollar bill.  

Of course I sold it to her for $1!  She loved it, and I wasn't going to let her leave without it.  I even asked her if she wanted to pick any of the others of if she really wanted that one.  She hugged it to her chest and said that was the one she wanted.  Made me really happy.  

I sold the Big Fat Halloween Cat, and the Big Dipper Cat, a couple of burnt pieces, and had a good time.  I was happy to be home after it was over, though.  I'm always happy to be back home.

My sister, Mary, and I went to the Thrift Store here in town on Friday, and I scored some more yarn for my stocking hats.  My stack of hats is growing!  Now that my fingers are used to making them again, I can whip one out in a couple of days.  

Life is good!  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Handmade by Cosmo

This and That

 Happy Monday, it's the last day of the three day Labor Day weekend.  I've stayed home except for going to my sister's for my nephew's birthday dinner yesterday.  He is 30 years old now.  Jeez.  

I got my driver's license renewed last week.  I wonder if that will be the last time I renew it?  I hope not.

Greg and Brad are getting along as well as I hoped they would.  That makes me very happy, and I can tell that Greg is much happier than he was.  Brad is a most adorable and loving black kitten, and a great addition to our family unit.

Like I mentioned, I got my round loom out last week, and started making some stocking hats for Christmas presents.  My daughter sent me some very brightly colored yarns for my birthday, so I made this:

I can't tell you who it's for.  

I have another one on the loom, and have the next one planned in my head.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Big Boy Brad

Handmade by Cosmo

I Did Another Thing

 

Big Boy Brad

Good Boy Greg was so bored.  He was tired of the games we play all the time.  Even new toys didn't excite him.  All he wanted was for me to stop whatever I was doing and do something with him, even if he didn't really want to do anything, he wanted my full attention.  

Good Boy Greg

Not that I blame him, I'm pretty cool, but dang, I have things I want to do, too.

And I know I said I didn't want another cat, I remember all those things I said...

I got Greg a little brother this weekend. My niece found him for me.  (That girl has the pet connections like crazy.)  after the first night of Greg showing this little 10 week old kitten who was boss, I think he likes him.  He'll be standoffish for a bit, I get it, kitty language and all that, but Brad is not afraid of him one bit.  

So far, Brad is a sweet boy, already knows his name, and loves his cat food,  I feed them together, with separate bowls, of course, and they do fine.  They share a water bowl, which gets refreshed at least 4 times a day, including ice cubes.  Yep, I like my water cold, they probably do, too.

I have a white pleather Big Fat Cat with gray and white details.  Stuffing it tonight.  

Here's some pics I took over the weekend of the Critters I have available right this minute.  If you see anyone you'd like to know more about, check my shop over on FB, and if it's not in there, send me a message!  

The pleather pig is way redder than this shows. 

That's about all of them, for now anyway.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Handmade by Cosmo

Another new one!

Introducing another Big Kitty, I call this one Biggie Fall.

This is how they start out, after the vision in my head, of course.

 And here it is, all finished and ready to go to a new home! 

I am really enjoying making the Bigs, I have a pleather Halloween Big ready to stuff today.  I also have a faux suede Big White cut out, waiting it's turn to be stitched.  .

My green pleather Dinosaur found a new home last night.  One of my boys fell in love with it.   

In my Critter Career, which began in 2011, I am sure I have given away more than I have sold.  Same goes for my Burning Career, which began in 2017.  Don't get me wrong, I've made quite a few sales, and probably should have kept better track of them...  I do need to do a big inventory of my wares one of these days.  Maybe even share it here with you.  

All my Critters are made with Magic, Luck and Love. While some may have safety eyes (this one does), they are not sold as toys. They are hand stitched and firmly hand stuffed. If they are to be played with, it should be gently, and with adult supervision. These Critters are designed to be a touch of fun and whimsy in your world. They don't take up much space and they are very good listeners.

Most of my Critters can be made in any color(s), combinations you may choose. Most can be made in either faux leather or suede, and/or felt.

I do love working on a custom order, so don't be shy about messaging me!

Christmas is coming! Order yours soon!

Play Nice! xxoo

Greg is still not used to me being at the computer, While I do take breaks to play with him, he's very insistent on getting in the corner behind the hard drive, where all the cords are. I've had to block one entrance, which leads him to attack from behind past me. I've had to be very stern, and sterner by the day. And by stern I mean scruffing him, while saying no in a stern voice.

Greg in March 2023

More Adventures

This is my test run of using pleather and the "big" version of the Fat Cat pattern that I use.

Here are the 3 sizes Big, "Normal" and Mini.

I learned a few things working on the Big one, it had been awhile since I made one.  

I started another Big in shades of blue, and in using what I learned, I think he's turning out very nicely.  

Hopefully I will have him finished this evening.  I kinda like to do my stuffing in the evenings.  I like to watch a few You Tube videos, always trying to learn new things.  

For example, last night I learned how to make a scarf with my round loom!  I've also learned how to make tassels with my handy dandy pom pom/tassel making contraption.  

When I learn to make something new, my mind just goes into such a heavy creating mode, I love it!  I can hardly write the ideas down fast enough! 

My daughter, Darlin' Danielle, is a very talented artist, in many mediums.  (Shame on you, 2nd grade Art teacher that told her she didn't have any talent!)  I have asked her to draw something for me for the top of my small work table.  

Winter is coming soon, and I want to make sure I have enough projects to work on!  

Play Nice!  xxoo

Latest pic of Greg.  

In the middle of all the stuff I am working on, of course.  

Come check out my shop?

Handmade by Cosmo

 

Adventures with Pleather

 

I call this one "Jewell"

This girl was an experiment, and I learned a lot!  I got the faux leather at Dollar Tree, a couple foot in a box...not too many colors to choose from.  

The pleather is pretty thin, so I used a thin needle.  With "regular" pleather, I use bigger needle.  

From a distance, she looks ok.  I was going to use some silver thread to give her some whiskers.  I was going to put a small diamond on the tip of her tail.  

I glued the jewels directly to the pleather using fabric fusion glue.  Before I stuffed her.  
    Lesson:  Glue jewels to felt, sew felt to body.  The jewels did not want to stick to the pleather.

I did not give the glue sufficient time to dry before I started stitching it together.  

    Lesson:  Let the glue dry, for goodness sakes!  

Smudges.  Can't remove them.  I tried.
And you can see the jewel lifting off the pleather.

So, once I admitted that this was not one that was going to leave this house, I stopped dolling her up.  She's still cute as heck, and I have a collection of white items, she will fit in perfectly there.  

Oh my goodness, I just discovered the PERFECT place to take photos, without having to get my whole photo box out!  

I cannot tell you how much I love it when ideas pop into my head.  I often wonder where those ideas come from.  Have you ever wondered how you think of something?  

Just a makeshift in the new location...

I'm really liking it.  

(Gotta  make a new backdrop)

Play Nice!  xxoo

Impact

Nope, not the font used on memes.  I was today years old when I learned that there are a bunch of memes out there regarding using this font on memes.  Hilarious.

Nah, I'm thinking about the impact that we make on others without even knowing it.  I mean, for example, not too long ago two of my friendships went through a status change.  Being the loner, I became the odd one out.  The other two, I assume, stayed connected.

Now you know that I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason, and I'm not going to go into the reasons, suffice it to say that I was relieved.  

I also believe that what's done is done, so I didn't do any lurking.  I have no interest in that regard. What they may have said is none of my business.  

The point is that I got a notification that one of them had changed their insta to private.  Now it very well may not have been because of me, but if it was, dang. 

Feeling the impact of what happened?  

So, in thinking about this, that's what got me to thinking.  I know this isn't a new idea, but it's one that I'd like to keep in the front of my brain.  

I mean, I try my best to be kind to everyone, to be friendly, upbeat, positive.  Trust me, I tried being "quiet" and that just doesn't suit me at all.  To go through a check out line without asking the cashier about her day is something that I can't do.  I've been on the other side of that line, and I do remember the customers that were sincerely nice.  

Except for that old man that lives in this complex that thought it would be ok to come to my door at 9:00 pm to ask me for help with his electric stove.  I got such weird vibes from him, I pretty much shut the door in his face.  

Play Nice!  xxoo

I made this, do you like it?

Handmade by Cosmo